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WEATHER TONIGHT
Clear Skies. Low of 36.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 87
See Request, Page 8
Westfield Ward Six City Councilor William (Bill) Onyski (WNG file photo)
Lt. Gov. Polito visits Southwick to sign agreement By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito made a visit to Southwick Town Hall on Thursday afternoon in order to sign a Community Compact agreement with the town. The Community Compact is a project that is a part of the Baker-Polito Administration, which officially came into effect when Gov. Charlie Baker signed his first Executive Order on January 23, 2015. In the auditorium of the Southwick Town Hall, Polito announced that Southwick would be the 271st community throughout the commonwealth to have a Community Compact signed. “This shows that this is a program working for all parts of the state,” said Polito. Select Board ViceChairman Doug Moglin was pleased when he heard the town would be a part of the Community Compact. “It really enables each town to pick a best practice See Polito, Page 8
HAL BORLAND
75 cents
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2017
Air National Guard responds to councilor’s request By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Air National Guard responded to a city councilor’s request for information about chemicals on the Guard’s base at Barnes Regional Airport during the city’s airport commission meeting Thursday night. John Richardson, environmental manager for the base, who spoke on behalf of the Guard, detailed the steps personnel take on the base, as well as highlighting where chemicals that are on the property are listed and how they can be accessed. The lists are maintained regularly, according to Richardson,
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
CPC approves open space proposal
The You Lead group is also a great way to socialize after school, says members. (Photo submitted)
You Lead group at Westfield Technical Academy finds joy in helping others By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At a recent meeting of the You Lead group at Westfield Technical Academy, student leader Jaisen Gomez, a senior in Allied Health, said it’s sometimes hard to gather people the last few months of the year. “Now that we’re all getting older, the majority of us have jobs and sports,” Gomez said. You Lead is a student-run peer-mentoring group that formed six years ago, with a mission to abstain or refrain from drugs and alcohol, and to create a positive atmosphere for students. Science teacher and faculty adviser Kyle Dulude, who coaches basketball and soccer at the school, said anyone can come at any time to participate. Dulude said You Lead has about ten core members, You Lead group members Isaiah Leveck, Jaisen Gomez, Emily White and faculty advisor Kyle Dulude. (Photo by Amy Porter) See You Lead, Page 3
500 Easter eggs await Russell children
Ed Riel, Nancy Mezger, Illtyd Fernandez-Sierra and Paula Hepburn spent Thursday evening at the Russell Town Hall stuffing Easter eggs for Saturday’s egg hunt.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent RUSSELL-More than 500 colorful plastic Easter eggs were stuffed Thursday night by members of the Town of Russell Recreation Committee in anticipation of Saturday morning’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. “Last year we had about 25 children from town so we are hoping more town children and grandchildren of residents turn out,” said Illtyd Fernandez-Sierra, who has been involved with the committee for more than 10 years. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Town Hall, a handful of members and volunteers began the task of See Russell Children, Page 3
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – At Thursday night’s CPC (Community Preservation Committee) meeting, the open space on 466 Montgomery Road was discussed. The property is owned by Robert and Karen Baker. With Franklin Land Trust representing them, the Baker’s made a proposal in the past to conserve 39.34 acres, which abuts where they live. During the CPC meeting, the committee decided to make a motion to accept the project funding and the conservation restriction with Franklin Land Trust. Originally, the committee was planning on $179,900 to be the total project cost, but that figure changed to $189,900 on Thursday night. Joe Muto, the Chair of the CPC, voiced his support for the project. “Personally, it’s a project that I’m fully in support of,” said Muto. The 39.34 acres that will be conserved, is now added to the 27.34 acres that the Baker’s had previously donated back in December of 2004. According to Franklin Land Trust’s Emily Boss, the 39.34 acres of land will be funded so the restriction will be purchased by the town, yet the Baker’s will still be able to own the property. “It can never be developed,” said Robert Baker. Boss also added that anyone that acquires or buys the land in the future will have to follow the restrictions. “The people that they give it to or sell it to in the future will also be bound by the same restriction,” said Boss. Moving forward, Boss said that the Franklin Land Trust will now work with the CPC to create a new restriction for the land and to find out how it will be conserved. The City of Westfield will then be able to release the funds.
The CPC discussed the open space on the Baker property during Thursday night’s meeting. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Articulture opens doors for local artists By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — A vibrant arts district continues to evolve as members of ArtWorks of Westfield, Inc. prepares for its second Articulture event April 22. “What’s unique of this Articulture event is the mutual respect, enthusiasm, and co-existence between all of the artists that has been wonderful to watch and be a part of their world,” said Cheryl Crowe, event manager and treasurer, ArtWorks of Westfield, Inc. “Over the past year that ArtWorks of Westfield has been in the formation, many artists have come forward
identifying themselves and becoming involved which has helped open doors for them and ArtWorks growth.”
Crowe noted that several of last year’s artists will return to the event with the expansion of a variety of new local artists “that will leave you
in awe with the amazing talent that has been hidden away.” Crowe added that since Bill Westerlind’s vision of expanding a vibrant arts district started last January, ArtWorks has been pulling artists in of all ages and witnessing a “bouquet of creative talent” within the community. “Westfield on Weekends pulls off well organized large scale artistic events such as Dickens Days and the Concert on the Green while ArtWorks continues the life of arts on a smaller scale maintaining a steady stream of See Articulture, Page 8